Another Signpost

Today the fourth grade language arts teachers got to attend a professional development to talk about writing across the curriculum. I hate to be away from the room but I believe professional development is so important. I always walk away from a professional development day with a handful of ideas that I can use in the class right away. Today was no different. I cannot wait to give these new ideas a try in our room.

In class the students continued to work on reading Charlotte's Web.

When the class is reading this book they are on the look out for signposts that will help them to a deeper understanding of the book. I already talked about our first signpost...Tough Questions. If you did not read about Tough Questions, just scroll down a few days to learn about that important signpost. Another signpost that the class is on the lookout for is Words of the Wiser. 

Words of the Wiser is one of my favorite signposts. Many of the characters that I love in books and movies are the ones delivering the wise lines. There is Yoda in Star Wars, Mookie in How to Steal a Dog, the wise turtle, Dumbledore, Charlotte, and the list goes on and on. 

When students find these Words of the Wiser moments, they need to stop and ask themselves the question: "What's the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?" The advice from this wise character can often lead you to the theme of the book. So be on the lookout for examples of these wise characters in the books, television shows, and movies that you are watching. If you notice an example of the wise words, stop the movie or pause the show or grab that bookmark and have a discussion about how those words might affect the character.

Hope you are having a great week.